Luggage carrier



March 29 192?.

M. L. CLELAND LUGGAGE CARRIER Filed April 15 1926 Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OF F I C E i MELVIN IJ- CLELAND, OF HASTINGS, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR TO G. A. ROTH.MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF HASTINGS, NEBRASKA, A CORPORATION.

LUGGAGE CARRIER.

The present invention relates to luggage carriers, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which can be readily applied to the running board of an automobile or other vehicle and embodies novel features of construction, whereby it can be easily'and effectively locked in either an extended position or a collapsed position.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character which is simple and inexpensive in its construction, which. enables the parts to be compactly folded into position at the edge of the running board when not in use, and which provides effective means for locking the parts in extended position.

While one particular form of the invention is shown and described in this application for illustrative purposes it will be understood that many modifications and changes can be made in the details of construction' without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a luggage carrier which is constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the same as extended and in position for use.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same device showing it in a collapsed position.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the device when folded. E

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the device when folded, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5.5 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indi cated on'all of the views of the drawing by like reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a lower horizontal bar which is adapted to be secured to the running board of an automobile. This lowerbar 1. is pivotally connected by means of a series of parallel links 24to an upper bar 3 which is adapted to be moved toward and away from the lower'bar, but isalways held in a parallel relation thereto by means of the links 2. The bars 1 and 3preferably have an angle iron formation and are reversely disposed with respect to each other, so that when they are brought together, as shown by Figures 4 and 5, they cooperate with each other to form a substantially rectangular housing within which the links 2 are reoeived. The luggage carrier thus presents a 1neat appearance and has a smooth outer sic e.

The lower bar 1 may be secured tothe running board of an automobile, such as the one indicated by dotted lines on Figure 1, in any suitable manner. on the drawings, it is provided with a pair of U-shaped brackets 4 which are secured in place by means of rivets 5. The arms of the brackets receive the edge ofthe running board between the same, the lower arms having clamping screws 6 threaded therein. The upper ends of the clamping screws may have heads 7 swiveled thereon for engagement with the bottomof the running board, while the lower ends of the clamping screws are provided with suitable handles 8.

A locking brace bar 9 is pivotally connected at 10 with one end of the lower bar 1, the swinging end of the locking bar being formed with a laterally projecting stud 11, which is, adapted to interlock with a keyhole slot 12 in the end of the upper bar 3 when the luggage carrier is in an extended position.

The stud 11 has a reduced or shank portion 11 which is adapted to be moved into the contracted end of the key-hole slot 12 after the head of the stud has been inserted through the large end of the keyhole slot. A cam lever 13 is pivotally mounted on the upper bar 3 andarranged for engagement with the projecting end of the stud 11 to lock the stud. inthe contracted end of the-key-hole slot. The cam lever is arranged on the outer side of the upper bar 3, being pivoted thereon at 1.4; and provided with a finger piece 13, by means of which itcan be manipulated. When the stud 11 is locked in engagement with the keyhole slot by means of the cam lever 14, the device is held securely in an extended position. It may also be noted that the locking bar 9 then performs the additional function of pro-. viding an extension at one end of the luggage carrier.

When it is desired to collapse the luggage carrier the cam lever 13 is swung into in As shown operative position and the lateral stud 11 disengaged from the key-hole slot 12. The upper bar 3may thenbe swung downwardly against the lower bar 1 with the links2 housed within the elongated space provided between the two angle iron bars. Thedocking bar 9 is pivotally connected to the side of the lower bar 1 whichis adjacent the edge of the running board, and when the device is collapsed the locking bar is swung" clownwardly onthe outside of the lower bar 1.

being received in the space between the said f lower bar and the edge of the running board. As shown more clearly by Figure 4:, a washer" 15' is interposed between the adjacent li -shaped bracket 4: and the lower bar 1, said washer surroundingfthe" rivet 5 1 and spacing the U-shaped bracket from the lowerbar-so that the lower-edge portion ofthe loekingbar may be receivedbetween the bar 1 and the bracket 1. The upper edge of the bar lis formedwith a notch 16 which islsuitably arranged to receivethe lateral stud 11 when thelocking bar is swung down- "wardly, thereby enabling the major port-ion ot' the locking bar to be effectively housed in the space between thelower bar 1 and the edge of the running board. The locking bar maybe'tormed with a slight lateral bend to fit around the washer 15.

*Applied'to the upper bar 3, preferably at an intermediate point in the length thereof, is a latch member 17. This l'ateh member extends downwardlybelow the upper bar 3 engage and isadapted tospringoverthe edge of the flangeon thelower bar 1, asindicated byFiguresl and 5 to lock the parts in a collapsed position, atterthe latclr becomes disfrom the lower bar 1 when the upper bar is forcibly moved upwardly.

Having thus described my invention what 1 claim as new anddesire-to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

1. luggage carrler includ ng an upper" bar, a-lower bar, links connecting the bars and pivotally attached theretoto admitof the upperbar being moved toward and away from the lower bar, a locking bar pivotally -connected to the lower bar, a lateral stud in the swinging end of the locking' bar, the upper bar being tormedwith akeyholeslot adapted to detaehably receive the stud, means for locking the stud in engagement with thecontracted endot the key-hole slot I to hold the parts inaIr extended position1 the locking bar being adapted to be swung downwardly along side of the lower bar when theparts arecollapsedand the lower bar being formed with anotch to receive the 'stud.

2. A luggage carrier including anupper bar, a lower bar, links connecting the bars andapivotally attached thereto to admit of theupper bar being moved toward and away from the lower bar,- a locking bar pivotally connected to the lower bar a lateral stud on the swinging end of the locking bar adapted to detachably engage the upper bar to lock the parts in an extended position, a clamping bracket applied to the" lower bar for engaging the running board of an automobile, and means for spacing the clamping bracket from the lower bar, the locking bar being adapted to be swung downwardly alongside oi l'the' lower bar andreceived in the space betweenrthe" lowernbar? and clamp ing'bracket when the' device 15 collapsed; the

lower bar being formed with a' notch to receive the lateral stud of the loekingbar.

3.A' luggage" carrier including a pair of bars, links connecting the barsandpivotaHy attached thereto to admit of: the bars. :being moved toward or away "fronr each other, a. one ot the barshav ng aniopenmg there1n;a'lock mg rodpivoted to the otheribarland :pro-

vided with a studadapted to-ventertheepening, and cam means for locking'the stud in engagementwith' the opening.

4. Aiuggage carrier includ'ngia pair of bars, links connecting the bars and'p-ivotally attached tl1'eI'BtO t0'aClIDliIOf the bars? being moved toward or away from each other; one of the bars being provided with: anopening having a reduced end, a locking rod: pivotally connected to therother'bar and: formed with a lateralstud adapt-ed to'be' inserted through the opening andnhavingas shank' stud adapted to be inserted through the slot,

said stud having a ishankpoittionswhich can be moved into the reducedend oftheslbt, and a locking member permanently:mounted upon the bar and adapted' to engage the-stud to hold the shank thereht in the reduced end of the slot.

GLAduggage carrier incll iding a: pair of bars; links comiectingthe bars and pivotally attached thereto to admit of lthe bars being moved toward or away tronreach other. one of the bars bemg formed with an opening having a reduced end, i a lOGklIlg rod pivotally connected to'the' other bar and provided with a stud adapted to be inserted through the open1ng,saidstud having a neck which can be moved into the reduced end of; the

opening, and a cammember pivotaillymounted on the barfor engagement wrth thestud to hold the shank thereof in the reduced end of the'open-ing.

7. A lu a e carrler includin" a air of- !DD 29 O bars, links connecting the bars and pivotally attached thereto to admit of the bars being moved toward or away from each other, clamping brackets for one of the bars, a 5 fastening member securing the brackets to the bars, a keeper associated With one of the brackets and secured to the bar by the same fastening member, a locking rod connected to the other bar, and means for detachably connecting the locking rod to the first men- 1 tioned bar to hold the luggage carrier in extended position, said locking rod being foldable against the first mentioned bar and adapted to be engaged by the before mentioned keeper to lock the carrier in a 001- 15 lapsed condition.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MELVIN L. CLELAND. 

